Polypro Hoop Myths

 Yes, there's a lot of them out there. Like they're just for advanced hoopers and the hoops are meant to be very small. Not such a thing. This whole beginner and advanced hoop thing starts to get on my "hoop core"  so...... polypro is just a material out of which hoops are made. Same as HDPE. Both are types of tubing used in hydraulics. They both make great hoops, small and big. 

Here are my thoughts:

-Polypro (polypropylene or ppe) is just a different hoop material that is much more RESPONSIVE, BENDY, FLEXY meaning more ease when transitioning, jumping, changing directions. All those moves can be done with HDPE as well just with a bit more effort and strength to it. If your hoop sessions are longer then poly can be more kind to your body because it just bounces off gently from point of contact. HDPE will give your muscles a nice kneading action though :) 

-  Polypro  feels lighter, gentler, bouncier; If you ever received massage then poly feels like more energetic tune up or lymphatic drainage massage (great for decreasing swelling and inflammation, promotes regeneration of tissue and elimination of metabolic waste/toxins). Lymphatic drainage has a very delicate structure just under the skin and light, feather touch pressure is optimal to prevent lymphatic capillaries from collapsing and the drainage to be activated. HDPE on the other hand feels more firmer depending on its size and thickness.

- Poly makes great beginner hoops! Yes, that's right. It's not reserved for speedy, off body moves.  I've seen 43" poly hoops that people enjoy greatly as it decreases pressure on the hip when learning resulting in less bruising; it's FORGIVING for technical mishaps and if it lands on your head you're not worried about going to work with black eye the next day lol; it also makes less noise when falls down

 

Overall I really like this new hoop material. I love its responsiveness but for long time I stayed away from them as I like my hoops a bit heavier like 1lbs vs. a dime he he. And I am not a big fan of small ones. And whenever you look in the hoop world poly hoop is small, light and used 90% for off body moves. I am here to tell you that you can have a big ass poly hoop and core hoop like there's no tomorrow. Sometimes all we need is  the permission to do things our way. I encourage you to do so.

 

I came up with a solution to my preferences.  I stay with my 38" diameter (allows lots of layers of movement, extension and space to slow down). The size itself helps to add a bit of weight which translates to pleasurable pressure when I hoop. To add a bit more weight (enough to satisfy me and still give me plenty of options when hooping) I decided to tape it and add gaffers tape on the inside for grip. Result? My perfect hoop. I cannot wait to pick it up next week! On a side note, I've read that adding tape to poly is not recommended as it decreases responsiveness. I tried few hoops that were taped and did not experience any dramatic change. If anything, I felt more connected with it.

Be willing to experiment (it took me a while as speedy moves and small hoop myth really kept me away from those) and stay true to your style and preferences. This will make you a truly happy and authentic hooper.

Wow, never thought I would have so much to say about polypro. Holy Hoops, I am changing. Hoop Revolution?

Hoop Revolution Workshop with Rayna in Montreal, QC!!!!

 I was more than excited to hear than Rayna is coming to Montreal. Although not a short ride I was determined to attend and finally meet her. If you follow my posts you're probably aware that she inspired me to start hoop dancing and has been a motivating force behind my practice. I cannot describe in words what exactly is it that she  has such an influence on me but that's not really essential. Bottom line, it was an honor to meet her.

 The workshop was phenomenal. From start to finish it was packed with great advise on how to be more present in your dance with emphasis on details from head to toes and beyond (those extensions!). When you start paying attention to your whole body and starting expressing yourself with every inch of it then believe me, your hoop dancing will transform. From the way it feels to you to how people actually respond to your movement.

I have been watching Rayna for years now and never could pin point what exactly she does that is so memorable in her dance. In this workshop she shared her love for extension and how it affects our hoop dancing. Finally I was able to logically comprehend what is it that makes the most simple move an "Ah", "Wow", "Oh My God" moment. It's intention behind every movement, taking space with executing it, no rush (you can still be turbo fast hooper if that's your style and not give the impression of rushing) and extension in movement. I started looking at extension as "the luxury' in movement. It allows you to feel & express more, feels  & looks damn good, builds insane core strength, invites self awareness (bye bye sloppy, unintentional movements he he). 

I invite you this week to explore extension in your dance and experience luxurious movement. Here is few pointers:

• play a good tune and switch your mental focus from "hooping" to "hoop dancing", it will make all the difference
• become aware of what the non working hand is doing and invite it into play; same applies for your legs; are they accentuating/framing your body? is there an invisible connection between your arms/legs? Imagine you're moving through clear blue water or honey. Do you feel that resistance? That's what deliberate movement is all about.
• allow movement to express through your neck, head, face ...try not looking at what you're doing (as Rayna nicely pointed out) and focus on intentionally looking away for the fun of it
• pay attention to your feet and your toes ...are you on your tippy toes? are your feet flat? how are you placing your feet in space? what are the lines that you're drawing with your feet? same goes for the hands/fingers
• hair, accessories, wardrobe ,,,pay attention to it ....notice how is it to feel your hair at the nape of your neck, how bottom wide pants twirl as you spin, how the tribal feather earrings tickle your skin as you move etc. those sensations can become an extension of your expression
• are you taking enough space? try taking a bit more and see how your arms and torso and feet will respond; by space I mean extending, reaching out through movement whether it's through legs/arms/hips/torso and/or head & neck
• are you rushing? could the movements be more pronounced? detailed? intentional? do you sacrifice extension for the sake of speed? if so, try to focus on finishing each movement and gesture intentionally and slowly build up on the tempo that suits you; this way you will stay true to your style and keep expression unblocked and precise; this one is it's incredibly meditative
• slow down, allow anti-gravity spins and subtle pushes to come into play; it's harder than it sounds and even if it's not your style it's a great exercise to incorporate into your practice for cultivating that  essential core strength in hooping

Here is a short vid taken towards the end of our workshop. Such a pleasure to watch her. It makes sense to me  now why it feels so good to watch her since she embodies the luxury in movement. Enjoy and don't forget to work on this weekly dance assignment. 

Sunday Hooping Tunes

 Tunes from today's personal hooping playlist:

• Fortune Days, The Glitch Mob
• Drive it Like You Stole It, The Glitch Mob
• Finally Moving Remix James Brown Mush Up, Pretty Lights
• Afterglow (Akira Kiteshi Remix), Phaeleh feat. Soundmouse
• It's a fine day. Opus III

Short playlist but loved it so much I kept playing it over and over. Great for high energy hooping. 

Ontario's First 2011 Hoop Retreat!!! Don't miss it!

I feel so honored to be part of this upcoming event. It will be heavenly. Great location, summer time, fellow hoop dancers, yogis and spin flow artists, jams, bonfires, yummy food ...... Honestly, how much better does it get? Just 1.5hr ride North of Toronto.  Plan ahead, save your pennies and Get your tickets!

In my workshop I will be focusing on body isolations, extensions and traveling in hoop dance. It will be a fun and challenging workshop with lots of drills and attention to details. Concept of this workshop has been on my mind for few months now and it finally matured into its own format. With my daily hoop practice I try to refine it even more so I can present it in the most useful and interesting way. I have been working on its content for long time and it's a fruit of my labor. For more info about this workshop read here

If you know of anyone interested spread the word :) You will rest, revitalize, push your limits, learn, connect and have a hell lot of fun while doing it. 

Why do I hoop?

It's been ages since I shared anything related to hooping. But all is good. I am still hooping a lot and my passion, if anything, grew stronger. I am amazed how I keep at something for such long time and boredom or need for "something new" is not on the horizon. 

My personal hoop practice is at its peak. I hoop daily for at least 30min. and my blindfolded "hoop meditation" is just something I look forward to every day. I tried yoga and all kinds of meditations previously and although proved beneficial I never kept at it. They never felt really "me" .With hooping I feel 150% me. It's the only activity where I get lost in the most positive, beautiful and creative landscape of my mind. No self doubt or self criticism. Insecure? What does it mean? Just pure confidence and sense of well being.

Yes, it makes me sweat and improves muscle tone and flexibility and what not but that's not my primary reason. You see, there's ton of things you can do to attain the above mentioned  "body goals". But my hoop is the only place where I don’t doubt myself or second guess or feel insecure. THAT’S WHY I HOOP. To be in that beautifully desirable mental landscape, explore it and eventually transfer that feeling into my every day life activities, relationships and what not. To cultivate that mind space and allow it to expand you need to commit to regular practice. When you list its advantages on piece of paper it's hard not to engage in activity that showers you with so many positive vibes.

Why do you hoop? What are your deep deep core deep reasons? Know your why's. Why you do whatever you choose to do? What do you get out of it? There is more to it than "just for fun". Dig deep into the core of your being, find your reasons and stick with doing whatever accelerates positive states of mind. 

Hooping Challenge - Deliberate Movement

Recently, I really enjoy the idea of hooping in a slow, deliberate manner. And although sounds like a cool idea it's insanely hard to do. It's hard to slow down and pretend there is minimal movement on the outside while in reality you work every single muscle in your body and the focus and effort  is extremely heightened.

When you practice moving this way it's really beneficial to use imagination to increase sensual awareness. I like to pretend like I'm moving in water and create resistance with my own body. Another good one is "moving in honey".  You can imagine whatever works for you as long as it will generate some body resistance. Having said that, you can still create deliberate movement when focusing on speed it will just increase the difficulty of this exercise.  

A great example of deliberate movement with lightning speed is Spiral. She can move insanely fast but without compromising form, emotion, expression or technique. Although so fast sometimes she never rushes through her movements. She is in control. She also knows when to pause or slow down to create that dramatic effect that is a bliss to watch. Her whole body in engaged and you cannot deny it. She is present with every inch of her body.

My goal is to eventually get to the point where I feel 100% present and engaged. It takes practice and the more you experience flow the easiest it becomes to tune in with it. I had fun with this challenge although I realized how much more I have to learn and how hard it is to move this way. But I am determined to get there. 

Deliberate movement is interesting to watch, it draws you in and creates very interesting dance dynamics. To dance deliberately is to dance with intention.  I encourage you to focus on that aspect of hooping in your next practice and explore the depth it has to offer.

My First Hooping Video

I have been hooping for over 2 years now. It's just recently that I started feeling comfortable enough to share it online. I was pleasantly surprised that I actually enjoyed watching this video. I was feeling it, flow was effortless and judgmental thoughts were at bay. Loved this feeling. 

I try to focus to DANCE with the hoop as much as possible. Very often, when people dance with props like pole or hoop, they have the tendency to focus on tricks and the "wow" factor. I encourage you to take it easy and just be fully present in your body and how it wants to move. When you are open to this idea flow just happens. By flow, I mean personal mastery of creative movement.

Few tips when Hoop Dancing:

- engage your whole body .... when you hoop on the waist don't forget about your facial expressions, your arms and legs. They are extension of what you personally expressing at that moment. Just be and the magic will happen. Same with any other part of your body.

When people have problems with it it's because tension is trapped in the body accompanied by holding your breath. Next time when you practice, try focusing on continuous conscious effortless breathing for at least one song. Notice how easy it is to stop paying attention and subconsciously raising your shoulders and holding your breath . Come back to breath and notice how much more expression and stamina there is available.

The focus of this particular exercise is breath, so don't get caught up in fancy moves, unless they happen organically. You will naturally notice smoother transitions, better performance, more appealing aesthetics, better connection with your audience, more confidence. You might feel a great sense of freedom and that is all it is about. You can apply this exercise to anything like washing dishes, working out, walking .... have fun with it. Your mind will wonder and that is OK. Just come back to your body and focus on breath. And remember, you can always go back to whatever you were thinking after the exercise is done. So just let go and be the best dancer you can be at that moment.


- play with various dance dynamics ... move softly, roughly, dramatic, slow, fast etc. This will add depth to your dance and keep it interesting for those watching.

Imagine you are performing and you are expressing your interpretation of music with your whole body. Give it all you got. Look at the imaginary audience and look back. Make eye contact. Tease and have fun with it. Your hoop is your dance partner so make connection with it and look over it as it spins around your body. This in turn will help to engage your upper body and create dramatic effect. Play with the space inside and outside of hoop. Add breaks and reversals at different speeds. There is so many options you can choose... The most important part is to create constantly changing dynamics and avoid repetitive body movements.